Multiple fuse



May 26, 1942. H. ALTSCHULE MULTIPLE FUSE Filed Feb. 24, 1941 INVENTOR.HrmnAZizsofiwZe BY WWW-A ATTORNEY Patented May 26, 1942 MULTIPLE FUSEHerman Altschule, Newark, N. J assignor to Utility Electric Corp., EastNewark, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application February 24,1941, Serial No. 380,122

3 Claims.

This, invention relates to new and useful ,improvements in multiplefuses, and particularly in plug fuses of the indicator type.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a plug typemultiple indicator fuse which can be readily assembled of simple andinexpensive parts, and which will withstand the fusing of the links.

With this object in view, I shall now describe a preferred embodiment ofthe invention and certain modifications thereof.

In the drawing,

Fig. l is a vertical cross-section of the multiple fuse plug;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a fusible link used; and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the wiper employed.

l is a base partiy enclosing the explosion chamber and having a centralperforation 2 in its bottom through which a copper rivet 3 projects witha head 3a resting against the bottom. The base has an outside shoulderla near the bottom and an outwardly flaring rim or flange 4.

Two concentric annular grooves are provided in the upper surfaces of thebase i and the rim 4; the first groove 5 opening into the chamber andthe second groove 6 spaced therefrom. There are six equidistant verticalperforations like I, through the flange 4 adjacent the side wall 8 ofthe base i, said perforations communicating with the groove 6.

In assembling the fuse, first the rivet 3 is inserted through thecentral perforation in the base I, then a spider 9 formed of easilyfusible material is placed within the chamber with the rivet 3projecting through the central perforation ill in the spider. The spideris provided with six equally spaced legs H, each about IE6 of an inchwide and fitting within vertical grooves formed in the inside surface ofthe chamber. These grooves are in alignment and are of the same width asthe perforation 1 through the flange 4. The spider is pushed down overrivet 3 until it is conformed to the shape of the chamber. Theprojecting free ends of the legs II are bent at right angles asindicated at l2 to lie flat against the bottom of groove 5. An eyelet i3is then slipped over the rivet 3 bearing against the spider 9, whereuponthe chamber is filled with arequenching powder [4 which is kept fromspilling out by a centrally perforated stopper [5 in the mouth of theopening.

The next operation in the assembling of the fuse is to place ascrew-threaded contact shell of portion of the brass l6 over the outsideof the base I. The lower end of the shell is turned in at I! to engageshoulder la 0n the base I. The upper end of shell. l6 terminates in sixequally spaced prongs l8, each about 1 6 of an inch wide and registeringwith the six openings 1 cut through flange 4. These prongs l8 projectthrough the openings '1 and the free ends are bent down as indicated atl9 to lie against the bottom of the groove 6.

The rotatable cover for the base is assembled as follows: A cap 20 isprovided with a central perforation surrounded by a metal washer 2|fastened to cap 20. One lead-in wire 22 of an electric, e. g., gaseousdischarge lamp 23 is soldered to the washer 2 I. The second lead-in wire24 is connected to the end of a resistor 25, the other end of which issoldered to an eyelet 26 passing throughcap 20 and holding in place acontactor 26a having two wipers 21 and 28.

The rim of the cap 20 is recessed as indicated at 29 and fits over ashoulder 30 formed in the flange 4. When the cover is placed over thebase, the rivet 3 will pass through the central perforation of 20, wiper21 will ride in groove 5, and wiper 28 in groove 6. As a finaloperation, the free end of rivet 3 is headed over as indicated at 3| andthe lamp l2 and resistance 24 enclosed within a casing 32 fastened tothe cap 20 by any suitable means (not shown), e. g., flanges projectingfrom 20 resiliently clamping the cap, and

through an opening 33 of which the lighting of the lamp may be observed.

The cover 20 may now be rotated until the wipers 21, 28, respectively,contact with the turned-out end I2 of a link II and the turnedout end l9of a prong [8 of shell l6. If the plug is now screwed into a fuse socketthrough rivet head 3a contacting therewith, rivet 3, fuse link H, wiper21, connector 26a, wiper 28, contact shell I9, l8, 16 to thescrew-threaded shell of the fuse socket.

When there is an abnormal current surge in the power mains, the link IIwill fuse, a weakened or bridged portion thereof being provided withinthe explosion chamber. Owing to the presence of arc-quenching powder Min this chamber, none of the parts of the plug will be injured and thegases generated will slowly leak out between the loosely fitting coverin the base.

When the low resistance path above described and including one of thelegs ll of the fusible link is thus broken, then the gaseous dischargelamp will light by current flowing from the central contact of the fusesocket through the rivet 3, washer 2|, lead-in wire 22, the electrodesof the lamp ,23, lead-in wire, resistor 25, eyelet 28, connector 28a,wiper 2|, shell l9, l8, ii, to the screw-threaded shell of the fusesocket.

The lighting of lamp 23 indicates that a fuse has blown ,whereupon thecover 20 is rotated until wipers 21, 28 engage, respectively, theportions l2 and I9 of the next prong l8 and fusible link ll.

Other modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit ofthe invention defined in the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a multiple fuse plug, a base and a rotatable cover thereforeenclosing a chamber, said base having an outwardly projecting rim; a

screw-threaded metal shell surrounding the base and projecting throughsaid rim; a plurality of two wiping contacts fastened to said cover andcooperating with the ends of the links and the shell projecting abovesaid rim; a rivet projecting through said base and cover to hold themtogether; insulation around said rivet in said chamber; a resistorconnected with one of'said wiping contacts; and an electric lampconnected 1- between the rivet and the resistor. 1

2. In a multiple fuse plug, a base partly enclosing a chamber and havinga flaring rim with a first annular groove therein surrounding theopening of the chamber and a second annular-" groove adjacent the firstgroove and having a plurality of openings through the flaring rim,

there being corresponding vertical grooves in the on the rim; aconnector fastened to said cover and having two wipers, one projectingwithin the first and the second within the second annular groove; arivet projecting through and holding together the base, spider andcover, arcquenching material filling the chamber; a resistor connectedwith said connector; and an electric lamp having two lead-in wires, oneconnected with said rivet and the second with said resistor.

3. In a multiple fuse indicator plug, a base partly enclosing a chamberperforated through the bottom, having a shoulder projecting from theoutside wall near the bottom and a rim flaring to the outside with afirst annular groove in the top of the rim surrounding the chamber, anda second annular groove adjacent the first groove and having sixopenings through the flaring portion ofthe rim, there being six verticalgrooves in the chamber extending from the first annular groove to theopening in the bottom, said six vertical grooves and six openings beingin alignment with one another; a screw-threaded metal shell surroundingthe sides of the base with-a turned-in fiange at one end engaging saidshoulder, and six equally spaced prongs projecting from the other endthrough said perforations into the second groove where they are bent atright angles to cover the bottom of the groove; a spider of fusiblematerial having a central perforation aligned with the perforation inthe bottom of the base and six legs, one in each vertical groove withthe free end bent at right angles against the bottom of the firstannular groove; a rotatable cover for said base seated on the perimeterof the flaring rim and a central perforation; a connector having twowipers,'one projecting within the first and the second within the secondannular groove; an' eyelet for fastening said connector to the bottom ofsaid cover with its wipers in aligmnent with said annular grooves; ametal washer fastened to the top of the cover around the otherperforation;

.: a rivet projecting through. the perforations in said base, spider andcover, having one head engaging the bottom of the base and a second headengaging said washer; ,an eyelet on the rivet bearing against saidspider; arc-quenching powder filling the chamber; a stopper for keepingthe powder in place; a gaseous discharge lamp having two lead-in wires,one connected with said washer; a cap for covering said lamp having anopening and fastened to said cover; and a resistor within said cap andconnected between the second lead-in wire and the first mentionedeyelet.

HERMAN ALTSCHULE'.

